Jar cover wrench



INVENTOR. JJa/V J7 727/? 5f/mj A ORNEYS J. J. PANlK JAR COVER WRENCH March 3, 1953 Flled Sept 24, 1948 March 3, 1953 J. L PANIK 2,630,031

JAR covER WRENCH Filed sept. 24, 194s 2 SHEETS- SHEET 2 IN V EN TOR.

M2' Mme AT ORNEYS Patented Mar. 3, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- JAR COVER WRENCH Joseph J. Panik, Detroit, Mich.

Application September 24, 1948, Serial No. 50,903

9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to clampingdevices and, in particular, refers to an improved clamping device adapted to serve as a wrench or tool for loosening and tightening the covers of jars and the like.

The need for a suitable mechanical device to assist in the tightening and especially the loosening of jar covers is well known. While tools for this purpose have been proposed in the past, they have for various reasons been impractical or unsatisfactory so that at the present time it is still necessary to resort to various makeshift expedients when attempting to remove unyielding covers.

It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a household implement which will expedite the tightening and removal of jar covers or the like.

An additional object is to provide a tool which does not have to be manipulated by the hands of one attempting to cap or decap a jar thus enabling the user to grasp the jar with both hands.

A further object is to provide a decapping tool which is adapted for use with a wide range of cover sizes.

Other objects and novel features of the invention will become apparent upon consideration of I the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a bottom plan View of a preferred embodiment of the invention; I

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the device shown in,

Fig. 1 and showing the jaws at the outward limit of their longitudinal movement; and,

Fig. 4 is a cross section through the device as taken on line 4 4 of Fig. l and shows a jar cover engaged by the gripping members.

Referring to the drawings, the improved de- -capping tool has a platelike frame I which is provided with an upstanding marginal edge `3 and screw holes 5 whereby it may be attached to the underside of a cupboard or the like with a surface of the frame I spaced from the cupboard slot II which receives the pivot pin 9. A clip I3 is suitably affixed to the end of the pin 9 whereby the jaws 1 are slidably clamped to the frame I. A tension spring I5 is attached to the clip I3 and to a suitable point I6 on the frame I for yieldably urging the jaws 1 to a position wherein the pin 9 is seated in the inner end of the slot I I.

The frame plate I is provided with a transverse slot I1 through which the leg portions I9 o f the jaws 1 extend to the other or topside of the frame. Outwardly extending links 2l are pivoted to the legs I9 as shown at 23. The other ends of the links 2I are connected to the frame I. This may be a direct pivotal connection or, in order to facilitate the initial adjustment of the jaw members, may be made through the structure which is best illustrated in Fig. 3.

As shown in Fig. 3, the links 2I are pivotally connected to the ends of a pair of bell cranks 25 and 21 by means of pins 29 and 3I, respectively. The bell cranks are pivoted at their central sections to the frame I, as shown at 33, and are pivotally joined together by a pin 35 which may move in a suitable slot 31 provided in one of the bell cranks. One end of the pin 3| is threaded and extends through an arcuate slot 39 in the plate I, this slot being formed on an arc of a circle having the pivot 33 of the bell crank 25 as a center, to the other side where it threadedly receives a wing nut 4I. A spacer 43 may be inserted between the link 2l and the plate I as shown in Fig. 2.

In normal household use, the plate I is alxed. through the medium of screws extending through holes 5, to the underside of a cupboard or other suitable support so that the jaw edges 8 extend downwardly, i. e. a position which is inverted from that shown in Fig. 4. Alternatively, the device may be attached to a vertical wall or other surface at a convenient height, with the jaws i extending upwardly. The spring I5 holds the jaw members 1 against the inner end of the slot II and the size of the jaw opening is adjusted to the jar cover diameter by means of the wing nut 4I and pin 29. The wing nut 4I is unloosened so that the end of bell crank 25 and the link ZI are unclamped from the plate I. Assuming that the jaws 1 are spread to a maximum opening, the jar cover is inserted in the jaws 1 and the nut 4I and pin 29 moved inwardly in the slot 39. This movement pivots bell crank 25 about the pin 33 so that the pivotal connection 35 between the bell cranks 25 and 21 moves toward the slot II. This pivots the bell crank 21 so that its pivot pin 3I moves inwardly an amount equal to the inward movement of the pin 29. The pins 29 and 3| act through the links 2| to move the jaws toward each other about pivot point 9. This movement is continued until the jaw pads IIJ contact the opposite sides of the cover, whereupon the wing nut 4| is tightened on pin 29. This clamps the bell crank 25 and the link 2| directly to the plate I and since the bell crank 25 is thus rendered immovable the bell crank 21 is likewisev held in xed position sothat the pin 3| is incapable of movement. The initial size of the opening between the jaw pads l is there-v fore ixedly adjusted.

With the initial adjustment made and tlrecover.v

inserted between the jaw edges 8, the.jar..A is... bodily translated in a longitudinal direction but-v wardly or to the left in Fig. 4 (upwardly iniFigxl).

This forces the jaws l to move longitudinally in the slot against the resistance of spring '|5/ This movement causes thelinks 2| to pivot about their fixed pivot points`v` A29I and 3|. recognized that in the normalv biased positionof Fig; l1, -'thefpivot pins 23, connecting the links 2| i to tightly grip thecover, so that whenL the jar is `twisted manually the-cover-remains stationary and is thus loosened-or tightened, asthe case may be. Y

It is desirable that the links2| pass-over center before the jaris twisted-so that a positive lock is providedto prevent expansion and looseningV of, thejaws Al! dueto thealpplied vturning forcesr 'Y onthe jar A.- It will "berecognized yfrom the drawings that thisY is accomplished by 'making the slot |ofV siiicient lengthl soA that this is possible.' Passageoverfcenter despite the tight grip previously placed on thejarcover bythe jaws 'I is permitted'by the resilient "character of the'pa'ds Afterthe Yjar cover has been loosened or tightened, longitudinalforces is exerted on the jarV A inthe-opposite direction to--rnovethe linksv 2| l back-overf-center. This 'movement' acts in "a manner which is now apparent to enlarge the' jaw opening and -allow the jar A tobe withdrawn..

It willbe recognized tha-tvariousmodifications; omissions and additions may be madeV to the structure herein described,VIV without Adeparting.'

from the spirit of the invention.

What-is claimed is:

1. A clamping-device Acomprising a Aframe, a pair-of-coacting jaw members mounted on said frame for joint longitudinal movementrand for transverse-movement'relative to each other, said' jaw members vbeing adapted to receive a body 'to belclamped and to be longitudinally moved .relative-to the frame by translation of said body, and

means4 connected to the frameV andcoacting"withY a jaw member whereby longitudinal movement of the jaws-in one direction causes a jaw to Ymove toward the other jaw.

2. A vclamping ping meansi'means connecting the gripping means to the` .frame but permitting long-itudinal-movement'relative thereto, said'gripping means in-L cluding elements `movable in a direction transdevice comprising' a 'frame' adapted to .bexed in a stationaryposition;grip-` verse to said longitudinal movement to expand and contract said aperture, and linkage connecting the gripping means to the frame and adapted to transversely move said elements upon longitudinal movement of the gripping means.

3. The invention as claimed in claim 2 wherein said linkage includes a toggle link that is arranged to pass over center upon longitudinal movement in one direction whereby expanding forces on 'the-"gripping, means are 'rendered ineffective.

4. The invention as claimed in claim 3 wherein the gripping means includes means providing resilients'urfaces thereon for engagement with a bodyto. be clamped.

5. A clamping device comprising a frame adaptedto belxed in a stationary position, gripping means providing an aperture to receive an articleto be clamped, means connecting the gripping means to the frame for longitudinal movement yrelativether-etc, said gripping `means including elements -movable in a ldirection transverse-to said-longitudinal movement toexpand and contract said aperture, means connected to the frame and to the gripping means operable upon*l longitiidin-al`r-v movement of the gripping means Vfor transversely moving said elementsV to expand and contract the aperturaand adjustableV means for. xedly connecting the elements to the frame-andtherefore*controlling 'the position of the-elements and-thus. theiniti'al size or the gripping'mea'n's within' predetermined limits.

SQA decapping tool for jars and the like 'comprising a frame, a pair of coacting jaw members pivotedfto the framefandadapted -to receive a jarfcover, -said'fjawmembers-being pivoted to a jaw lmember pivot `that'is-slidably mounted on the frame whereby the jaw members arecapable offflongitudinal movement uponv the application of 'translatory forces to 'jar covers received thereby, -a pair :of bell. cranks pivotally connected at their fcentralA pivot points tothe frame, 'nonbinding `vpivot meansinterconnecting the Ybell cranks Vat one end, 1inks1-pivotallyconnecting the other ends of the bell cranks to the respective jaw :members saidfflirikspa'ssing over Ycenter1 as a resultof a :prel'determined 4amount of llongitudinal movementl of1jars being decapp'edy-'andl means '-.xedly'connecting-saidother end of one of the bell cranks to theframe, said last -means beingzcapable oflateralfadjustment on the Aframe whereby to provide means for adjusting-the initial-f'opening off the jawfmembe'rs.Y

7. "A tool-for tighteningior loosening jar covers or the like comprisingl a frame having means wherf-gby:fii;:may` belirimovably aliix'ed to Ia Stationarymeinber, a pair of` jaws adapted to-grip a cover, a slidablefpi'vot connecting the jaws toA the: frame forpivotalrmovement toward or away from feach 'oth'rf and iT-or' and means lconnected 'totheframe yand to the jaws-at points-spaced `fromsaid pivot and operative upon translatory movement ofthe jaws for pivoting them -toward'each other whereby, upon insertion of a jar cover into said jaws and then translationoffthe jar -totransl'ate said jaws,l the jawsV grip the cover sovthat upon rotation of the jarthe cover-is held in xd `position and is tightenedion or unloosenedfrom thejar.

8. `A tool for tightening or loosening jar covers or'th'eE -likefcomprisinga frame having means whereby it ymay be'X-edly mounted in a stationary position, cover'grpping members mounted on thek frame and `deiininglan aperture to receive a cover,l said members 'being movable in -transla-tory movement;

directions to expand or contract said aperture, said members also being movable in directions transverse to said expanding and contracting movement, and means connecting the members to the frame and operative upon movement of the members in said transverse directions to simultaneously effect expanding or contracting movement of the members whereby a jar may be grasped with both hands and its cover inserted in the aperture and upon transverse movement of the jar the jaws grip the cover so that both hands may be used to twist the jar to tighten or loosen the cover.

9. A decapping wrench for jar covers comprising a platelike frame having means whereby it may be afxed to a cupboard or the like, said frame having an elongated slot, a member attached to the frame and slidable in said slot, a pair of arcuate jaws defining a cover receiving aperture, said jaws being pivoted to said member whereby they are capable of pivotal movement relative to the frame and of translation relative to the frame upon sliding of the member in the slot, said slot being directed radially of the aperture provided by said jaws, said jaws each having a leg extending generally parallel to said slot and on the opposite side of said cover receiving aperture, a pair of links each extending transversely to a jaw leg and pvoted thereto, the other ends of said links being pivoted on a fixed axis to the frame whereby said jaws move transversely as Well as longitudinally when said member slides in said slot.

JOSEPH J. PANIK.

REFERENCES CILTED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,195,846 Newman Aug. 22, 1916 1,394,388 Wisenberg Oct; 18, 1921 1,527,103 Yaussi Feb. 17, 1925 1,554,937 Wohlgemuth Sept. 22, 1925 2,009,774 Herlihy et al. July 30, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 568,058 France Dec. 15, 1923 

